Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-29

srArE HIsroKIcA Al SOCIETY
Fifth Bic nnial Report Of tie hoard a
Directors.
Topeka, January A.-The board Of dirso-
tors OF the State Historical society, of -
state of Kansas, presented the following 70
port OF the work Of the society during The
two years ending January Is, 1886:
Bound volumes added to the library, 200O;
unbound volumes and pamphlets, 1O,O00;
volumes OF newspapers and periodicals.
z.olo; siogie Newspapers and newspaper cut
tngs containing special historical material.
763; maps, aliases, ETC., 81; manuscripts.
1,5S2: pictures, 263; miscellaneous contribu-
tons, III; scrip, currency, ETC., Al Thus IL
will be seen that the library additions Of
books, pamphlets and newspaper files dur
ing the two years, number 1881 volumes.
Of these: 1887 have been procured by gift
and OLA by purchase. The total of the
library at the present time ia az follow:
$780, bound volumes, n, 10S unbound
volumes, {, 248 bound newspaper files and
volumes OF periodicals.; in all, 36,70S
volumes.
The growth of the library during the two
years has been greater than than that for
any similar period. This has been due in
part to the growth of the state in poDula-
ton, adding to the number of home contri
butors to our collections. 1t has been large
ly due to the fact that the. uninterrupted
prosperity Of the society for the eleven years
of Its existence, and the unparalleled growth
OF its library in that period has given the
society reputation for permanency whicn
has attracted the attention of the older
lbrar1es and library workers of the country.
inducing great hberality on their part In
gifts to our library from their duplicate
collections.
OF such older libraries which have contrib
uted largely to our collections during the
past two years, the Boston public library,
the Library OF the American Antiquarian so.
ciety, Worcester, Mass, have been most lib
eral.
The accession of those publications of the
United States government which go to make
up the materials of the political history of
the country has been unusually large; espec-
tally OF such as come under the head of con-
gressional debates. OF this class our libra
~ has received, during two years, seventeen
volumes OF the series denominsted annals
of congress, covering the period from 1850
to 1924; twenty-nine volumes of the Reg
lister of Debates in Congress. 1924 to 1887;
seventy-tour volumes of the Congress onai
Globe 1888 to 1872; forty volumes
of the Congressional Record, COM
menoing with the year 1873; in
all 1872 volumes of this class. Thus with
what We have otherwise secured with very
little cost to the state, We have nearly a
complete set of these volumes which containa
connected history of the discussions in con-
gress and in the country, of every impor-
tant subject of public interest since the
foundation of the government, including
that decade of years in which Kansas affairs
occupied 80 conspicuous part in congress
lonal proceedings.
OThe unusual growth of the newspaper
branch of our library is q marked feature,
and of the $50 newspaper volumes now in
the library, 1,157, have been added during
the year past.
There are now being published in the state
153 newspapers and periodicals, the regu.
lar issues of which are all being preserved
in the library of this society. 1t is the ex-
perience of all historical research in these
days, that files of newspapers are the foun-
tain head of all exact data and information.
And when it is considered that this society
has gathered very full files of the earliest
newspapers published in Kansas, and that
within the last ele ven years it has gathered
all Kansas newspapers, and now contains
nearly complete files OF all the papers pub
ished in the newer, counties, it may be truly
said that its work in this department is un-
paralleled in The history of library making.
Our accumulation of materials of histori-
sal information of this class, as todching
he whole country, has be come very large.
notable portion of the gift; ninety seven
volumes of newspaper files from the Boston
public library, is that of s,xty-four volumes
Of ates from 1867 to 1860. This is most
rare and valuable contribution to our library
Of newspaper files, and goes largely to in
crease the richness of our collection in ear
ier dates in this most important branch of
historical materials.
One of the largest gifts of newspaper files
which the society has ever received, has
Baker, of Topeka. This gift consists Of
xty- five bound volumes, almost wholly of
Topeka newspapers, published between the
ears 1859 and 1885, many of them Of the
earlier years of this period.
Among the manuscript accessions Of in
terest which have added 70 the very full his-
;ory of this class of historical material which
he society pos .es5es may be mentioned
yift made by Mr.. Edward Byram, of Atchi-
ION county, of I'll papers of his grandfather,
Rev. lothian Meeker, q missionary to Kansas
Indians and who set up the first printing
,ress in Kansas. Mr.. Meeker began printing
n the spring of 1884, at the Shawnee Baptist
mission, in what is now known as Johnson
,ounty, Kansas. He did great deal of
printing, chiefly in the Indian languages, for
he use of missionaries of all determinations
their efforts to instruct the various tribes
# Indians which occupied that portion Of
he Indian Territory now in the limits OF
Kansas. His press was used for twenty
ears in this work, and up to the time VI hen
he settlement of kansas was begun. The
,ress YES afterward owned by the we'll
,nown Kansas editors, G. w. Brown, 6. 8.
orouty and e. N. Wood. The manuscript
,apers relate to Mr.. Meeker's missionary
york, to his printing, and to incidents per-
aiming to life among the Indians in Mlchi-
AN and Kansas during q period of thirty
ears.
The soci city has received large accessions
. pictures, historical recollections and mis-
contributions.
The library and collections of the society
ave grown far beyond the accommodations
Or room in the state house. The board
rges the importance of a provision in the
ew capitol, on its completion, for suitable
nd ample room for the society for many
ears to come.